Anaphase aberrations: a measure of genotoxicity in mutagen-treated fish cells

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Environ. Mutagen.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/em.2860040208· OSTI ID:6721430

Kocan, R M; Landolt, M L; Sabo, K M

Rainbow trout gonad cells (RTG-2) were cultured for various lengths of time in the presence of several classes of known mutagenic chemicals and several related compounds that possessed no known mutagenic/carcinogenic activity. During the course of exposure the cells were examined for the presence of abnormalities in the chromosome arrangement of anaphase figures during mitosis. Untreated and solvent-treated (dimethylsulfoxide-treated) cells exhibited a background abnormality rate of 12% with only minor chromosomal defects being observed. This was also true for those cells exposed to naphthol and anthracene, two chemicals with no proven mutagenic or carcinogenic activity. Conversely, significant increases in the frequency of anaphase aberrations were produced in cells treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, benzo(a)pyrene, 9-aminoacridine and mitomycin-C. These abnormalities were also far more complex and extensive than those observed in the control and nonmutagen-treated cells. Many species of fish have extremely small and numerous chromosomes, making resolution of chromosome defects such as sister chromatid exchange and deletions more difficult than in most mammalian diploid cells, which generally have larger and fewer chromosomes. Examination of cells during anaphase eliminates the need to observe each chromosome separately as well as the need to produce well-spread metaphase chromosomes. Since the sensitivity of anaphase aberrations to known mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds appears to be quite high in trout cells and since hundreds of suitable cells are available for analysis, this may be an appropriate alternative or addition to some of the more standard chromosome macrolesion tests developed in mammalian systems.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• OSTI ID: 6721430
• Journal Information: Environ. Mutagen.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Mutagen.; (United States) Vol. 4:2; ISSN ENMUD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560301* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Cells-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACRIDINES
AMINES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
AZINES
BENZOPYRENE
CARCINOGEN SCREENING
CELL CULTURES
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DRUGS
FISHES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
MITOMYCIN
MUTAGEN SCREENING
MUTATIONS
NITROSAMINES
NITROSO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PYRIDINES
SCREENING
TROUT
VERTEBRATES